Does WaAPI have a team inbox like Wati?

No. WaAPI is an API: messages go to your webhook and out through your code. Teams that want an inbox build it on top, or connect a helpdesk through n8n.

Can I keep the number I use on Wati?

WaAPI links numbers that run in the app. If your Wati number runs only on Meta’s API, link your app number or a new number instead.

Do I need message templates on WaAPI?

No. You send the text you choose, without submitting templates for review.

What do several numbers cost?

$10 per connected number a month each, on one subscription, with no plan you have to upgrade first.

Is there an MCP server for AI agents?

Yes, with 139 tools, hosted by WaAPI. Wati offers one as well.

Wati vs. WaAPI

A Wati alternative built for developers

Wati is a platform for teams — shared inbox, campaigns and a chatbot builder on Meta’s official API. WaAPI is an API with a flat rate per number, for teams that build the workflow in their own code.

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At a glance

Two different products for the same channel

Wati sells a workspace with seats; WaAPI sells API access per number. The rows below are where that shows.

	Wati Team platform on Meta's API	WaAPI Independent · flat rate
Pricing model	Monthly plan from €59 (billed annually), plus a charge for every message by Wati's rate card, paid from prepaid credit	$10 per connected number a month, no per-message charge
Setup	Facebook Business Manager, a website, and a number that is not registered with WhatsApp yet	Link a number that runs the app by QR code or pairing code
Templates	Must be approved. Without business verification: 250 contacts in 24 hours	None needed
Team members	Growth: 3 users, no more. Pro and Business: 5 included, then €39 or €89 per user a month	No per-user fees; share the token with as many apps and people as you like
API and webhooks	Growth: 10,000 API calls a month, no webhooks. Pro: 200,000 calls, limited webhooks. Business: 20 million calls, full webhooks	REST API and webhooks on every number
Groups	Business plan only, with an Official Business Account, up to 7 external participants	Create groups, manage participants, settings and invites
More numbers	€29 per number a month, Business plan only, up to 25	$10 per number, no cap
Built-in tools	Shared team inbox, no-code chatbot builder, broadcasts, 100+ integrations, MCP server	API-first: SDKs, n8n node, MCP server with 139 tools — no team inbox

As of October 2026, read on each provider’s own pages. Sources: Wati pricing · Wati help: message credits · Wati help: additional numbers · Wati help: requirements · Wati help: trial · Wati help: groups

Wati pricing

What Wati costs, plan by plan

Prices as Wati’s pricing page shows them in the EU, per month. Prices and currency vary by region; India also has a plan with a one-time fee.

Plan	Billed annually	Billed monthly	Users	API calls	Webhooks	Broadcasts
Growth	€59	€69	3 (fixed)	10,000 calls / month	None	15,000 / month
Pro	€119	€149	5, +€39 each	200,000 calls / month	Limited	Unlimited
Business	€279	€349	5, +€89 each	20 million calls / month	Full	Not stated

On top of every Wati plan

Each marketing, utility and authentication message is charged by Wati’s own rate card, from prepaid credit.
A second number costs €29 a month and needs the Business plan.
On Growth, a fourth team member is not possible.

On WaAPI

$10 per connected number a month — the whole price.
No charge per message, per user or per webhook.
Webhooks and the full API from the first number.

Why per-message costs add up: per-message vs. flat-rate pricing.

As of October 2026, read on each provider’s own pages. Sources: Wati pricing

Which one fits

Wati or WaAPI?

When Wati is the better choice

A team without developers needs a shared inbox, broadcast campaigns and a chatbot it can click together.
You want an official sender with approved templates on Meta's platform.
You live in the Wati app every day rather than in your own software.

When WaAPI fits better

You work through the API and build the logic in your own code or in n8n.
You don't want a charge per message or per team member on top of the plan.
You need webhooks from the first plan — Wati Growth includes 10,000 API calls a month and no webhooks.

Switching

Moving from Wati

1. Pick the number. WaAPI links a number that runs in the app. A number Wati connected to Meta’s API isn’t one, so link your app number or a new one.
2. Point your webhook. Set your endpoint as the instance’s webhook URL; incoming messages arrive as JSON, signed with your secret.
3. Replace the send calls. Templates become plain text — you write the message your code sends, no approval step.

curl --request POST \
  --url https://waapi.app/api/v1/instances/123/client/action/send-message \
  --header 'authorization: Bearer your-api-token' \
  --header 'content-type: application/json' \
  --data '{
    "chatId": "[email protected]",
    "message": "Hi Anna, your support ticket #318 has been answered."
}'

<?php

$instanceId = 123;
$apiToken = 'your-api-token';

$ch = curl_init("https://waapi.app/api/v1/instances/{$instanceId}/client/action/send-message");
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
    CURLOPT_POST => true,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER => [
        'authorization: Bearer ' . $apiToken,
        'content-type: application/json',
    ],
    CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => json_encode([
        'chatId' => '[email protected]',
        'message' => 'Hi Anna, your support ticket #318 has been answered.',
    ]),
]);

echo curl_exec($ch);

import requests

instance_id = 123
api_token = "your-api-token"

response = requests.post(
    f"https://waapi.app/api/v1/instances/{instance_id}/client/action/send-message",
    headers={"authorization": f"Bearer {api_token}"},
    json={
        "chatId": "[email protected]",
        "message": "Hi Anna, your support ticket #318 has been answered.",
    },
)

print(response.json())

const instanceId = 123;
const apiToken = 'your-api-token';

fetch(`https://waapi.app/api/v1/instances/${instanceId}/client/action/send-message`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    authorization: `Bearer ${apiToken}`,
    'content-type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    "chatId": "[email protected]",
    "message": "Hi Anna, your support ticket #318 has been answered.",
  }),
})
  .then((res) => res.json())
  .then(console.log);

Limits

Limits and sending safely

There is no cap on how many messages you send. What gets numbers restricted is contacting many people who never wrote to you — so send protection is on by default for every new number.

1–2 s

pause between two messages, per number

new conversations per hour, per number

new conversations per day, per number

What counts as a new conversation: a person who has never written to your number and whom you have not messaged in the last 7 days. Replies to people who wrote to you first and messages to groups and channels never count, and a follow-up within those 7 days doesn’t count twice.

Need more? Spread new contacts across several numbers, or switch send protection off for a number after confirming the warning — at your own risk.

How to avoid restrictions

Your first instance is free

One instance, free for your first month — with code FREEINSTANCE, entered at checkout.

Flat rate

Flat rate, simple

$10 / month, per connected number

Unlimited messages. Media, groups, channels, SDKs and MCP included. Cancel anytime.

No per-message fees
No per-user fees
No setup fee
Cancel anytime

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Wati vs. WaAPI: questions

What changes when you move from a team platform to an API.

: No. WaAPI is an API: messages go to your webhook and out through your code. Teams that want an inbox build it on top, or connect a helpdesk through n8n.
: WaAPI links numbers that run in the app. If your Wati number runs only on Meta’s API, link your app number or a new number instead.
: No. You send the text you choose, without submitting templates for review.
: $10 per connected number a month each, on one subscription, with no plan you have to upgrade first.
: Yes, with 139 tools, hosted by WaAPI. Wati offers one as well.

Try the API side of it

3-day free trial · No credit card · Cancel anytime.

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